The “Gay Gene" Replicated Again 20 yrs Latter
Mention this topic in almost any setting, and you're sure to spark a debate. Are you born gay, or is it simply an alternative lifestyle?
More than 20 years ago geneticist and National Institutes of Health researcher Dean Hamer made a splash and created controversy when he released a study that pinpointed two chromosomes where a gay gene or genes could be located. But it was one chromosome in particular, Xq28, that held the most promise.
"And that indicated there was something in there, some gene or genes that was somehow tipping the balance for people being gay as opposed to heterosexual," Hamer said in an interview with KITV4.
Hamer’s 1993 study examined about 40 pairs of brothers who were both gay and found many of them shared genetic material in the Xq28 chromosome. Although the study was peer-reviewed, the sample size left some critics wondering whether it was valid.
“It was a very mixed reaction and a very explosive reaction,” said Hamer, who is now retired and lives on Oahu’s North Shore. “It really caused a lot of news at that time.”
Last year, a follow-up study by researcher Alan Sanders and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development duplicated Hamer's results tenfold, linking the same Xq28 chromosome to male sexual orientation, and a likely hiding spot for a gay gene. Instead of 40 pairs of brothers, Sanders examined 409 pairs.
“It was a big, very international type of study and they found exactly the same results: same exact linkage, same numbers, same spot (and) probably the same genes,” said Hamer. “We were really delighted because it puts to rest any controversy about whether or not this original result was right and there really is a gene there at Xq28.”
John Rosario and Justin Pigott, two men who have been in a romantic relationship for the past eight years, say Hamer’s 1993 study and the follow-up research last year doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
"I can't speak for other people, but I always knew from a young age (I was gay)," said Pigott.
"It's something that you're born with,” added Rosario. “It's not a choice that you make in life or anything that necessarily happens to you. I believe I was born this way as many of my friends were."
However, some like Garrett Hashimoto of the Hawaii Christian Coalition aren't so convinced a gay gene or genes will ever be found.
"I'm sure we're going to be hearing more of these stories and until something definite comes up, I won't believe it,” said Hashimoto. “And if I may, I believe like other people that same-sex is not natural."
Those who are familiar with Hamer’s research say it's time to move past wondering whether a gay gene exists and into the next stages of the research.
"Most of the scholarly research for a generation now has indicated that sexual preference is a genetic issue, it's not a personal choice issue,” said John Hart, chair and professor of Hawaii Pacific University’s Department of Communication. “Now what we're doing is chasing down exactly what is that genetic cause."
After starting the race to find a gay gene more than 20 years ago, Hamer is eager to see it finished during his lifetime.
picture and more on this subject: http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-Homosexuality-Genetic
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